It was about five years ago, after coming back from New Zealand, that I started to get back into gig photography. Not being a professional at that time, or being linked to any kind of publication made it difficult to get passes for biger venues in Leeds, but thanks to a Ska band by the name of Mad Caddies (insert descriptive band bigging up here) that I could get back on the proverbial horse. This wasn’t just their gig though, it was the first
Slam Dunk Festival in 2007.
The nights had been going for a while and competing against the likes of the then Carling Weekend, the line up was small but targeted. Ska Punk was the main order of the day with a little bit of up and coming in the likes of some crappy bands you’ve likely never heard of… OK that’s a lie, this is the gig that launched YouMeatSix and featured a striking performance from Paramore just before the release of Riot, an album that would see them onto much bigger things; but the point is Slam Dunk knew it’s audience, supported new talent and it’s great to see it go from strength to strength for what it is today.
Now a supporting photographer for the Leeds Music Scene website, I’ve got a pass for the 2011 Slam Dunk Festival and while many things have changed, it’s a happy coincedence that this years main stage headliners are the same as back then – The mighty Reel Big Fish. In celebration I’ve put the original set up on my Flickr feed so go and have a look at how things have changed.
But what else if different? As a fledgling at a full day festival back then I got worn out pretty quick, and since then I’ve learned a lot from experience about how to get a great shot, but it was all on one stage. I’d make my way along the balcony of Leeds University refectory, down to the stage, snap away and then go back into the crowd for a drink and a breather. It was hard work but I came away with around five sets of pictures and it was pretty much like a normal gig, just with a few more support bands than usual.
Slam Dunk 2011 would be totally different. This was my first time shooting across multiple stages and the layout of the student union building in Leeds isn’t the easiest to navigate when you’re carrying a bag full of lenses, batteries, Speedlite and my trusty Canon 7D. With no joining backstage areas it was down to running with the crowd and beleive me some of those kids were eager to get to the front, especially for the likes of 3OH!3 and Framing Hanley on the Atticus stage. Credit is due to the security on the day though, and 99% of those frenzied teenagers were happy to help you passed after a quick tap on the shoulder and a glimpse of the camera – I wish all gigs were this easy to move around.
Start times were well organised to move between bands, but didn’t leave much oportunity for actually sticking around to watch anybody, although I made a few exeptions. The real killer was having to reset the timing and aperture values depending on the stage, as for most of the day daylight floods into the main hall, but the smaller Macbeth stage featured very limited lighting and almost every shot had to be accompanied by flash to get something out of it. One lesson I learned early on the day is always check your settings when you move into a new pit!
So by the end of it I was exhausted, surviving on merely a cornish pasty and a couple of bottles of Irn Bru through the day, but it was a great experience; Different challenges were around every corner but I proved to myself that although there’s always somehting to be learned, I can go forward confidently covering multiple stages should the need arise, and even got a couple of chances to really step out of my comfort zone and get creative with a couple of the smaller rooms.In particular my InnerPartySystem set stands out to me – I’ve shot DJs in clubs but this setting was different and a bit of quick thinking has helped me create my first abstract music set. But none of this would have happened without the music. To get a good photo the badns have to deliver, and Slam Dunk 2011 did this in abundance.
It was about five years ago, after coming back from New Zealand, that I started to get back into gig photography. Not being a professional at that time, or being linked to any kind of publication made it difficult to get passes for biger venues in Leeds, but thanks to a Ska band by the name of Mad Caddies (insert descriptive band bigging up here) that I could get back on the proverbial horse. This wasn’t just their gig though, it was the first Slam Dunk Festival in 2007.
The nights had been going for a while and competing against the likes of the then Carling Weekend, the line up was small but targeted. Ska Punk was the main order of the day with a little bit of up and coming in the likes of some crappy bands you’ve likely never heard of… OK that’s a lie, this is the gig that launched YouMeatSix and featured a striking performance from Paramore just before the release of Riot, an album that would see them onto much bigger things; but the point is Slam Dunk knew it’s audience but also supported new talent and it’s great to see it go from strength to strength for what it is today.
Now a supporting photographer for the Leeds Music Scene website, I’ve got a pass for the 2011 Slam Dunk Festival and while many things have changed, it’s a happy coincedence that this years main stage headliners are the same as back then – The mighty Reel Big Fish. In celebration I’ve put the original set up on my Flickr feed so go and have a look at how things have changed.
But what else if different? As a fledgling at a full day festival back then I got worn out pretty quick, and since then I’ve learned a lot from experience about how to get a great shot, but it was all on one stage. I’d make my way along the balcony of Leeds University refectory, down to the stage, snap away and then go back into the crowd for a drink and a breather. It was hard work but I came away with around five sets of pictures and it was pretty much like a normal gig, just with a few more support bands than usual.
Slam Dunk 2011 would be totally different. This was my first time shooting across multiple stages and the layout of the student union building in Leeds isn’t the easiest to navigate when you’re carrying a bag full of lenses, batteries, Speedlite and my trusty Canon 7D. With no joining backstage areas it was down to running with the crowd and beleive me some of those kids were eager to get to the front, especially for the likes of 3OH!3 and Framing Hanley on the Atticus stage. Credit is due to the security on the day though, and 99% of those frenzied teenagers were happy to help you passed after a quick tap on the shoulder and a glimpse of the camera – I wish all gigs were this easy to move around.
Start times were well organised to move between bands, but didn’t leave much oportunity for actually sticking around to watch anybody, although I made a few exeptions. The real killer was having to reset the timing and aperture values depending on the stage, as for most of the day daylight floods into the main hall, but the smaller Macbeth stage featured very limited lighting and almost every shot had to be accompanied by flash to get something out of it. One lesson I learned early on the day is always check your settings when you move into a new pit!
So by the end of it I was exhausted, surviving on merely a cornish pasty and a couple of bottles of Irn Bru through the day, but it was a great experience; Different challenges were around every corner but I proved to myself that although there’s always somehting to be learned, I can go forward confidently covering multiple stages should the need arise, and even got a couple of chances to really step out of my comfort zone and get creative with a couple of the smaller rooms.In particular my InnerPartySystem set stands out to me – I’ve shot DJs in clubs but this setting was different and a bit of quick thinking has helped me create my first abstract music set. But none of this would have happened without the music. To get a good photo the bands have to deliver, and Slam Dunk 2011 did this in abundance.
